Why he's important: Boyd's importance is two-fold. In the short term, the incoming freshman could find himself starting at one of the guard positions on the offensive line. At 6-foot-6 and 360 pounds, Boyd has a Big Ten-ready body and the pedigree — consensus top 50 guard nationally in the 2016 class — to take advantage of a thin Illini line and play right away. In the long term, landing Boyd out of Trinity Catholic in St. Louis in the 2017 class could be a boon for Illinois in future recruiting. The Illini have offered six Trinity Catholic players in the 2019 class, including a trio of four-star prospects.
Top 50 most important Illini: No. 28, Larry Boyd, OL
